A docent talking about Ponagar Temple to Nguyen Tan Tuan, Deputy Secretary of Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and the representatives at the unveiling ceremony

The program began with a general introduction about the temple dating from the 8th to 13th centuries and ritual acts to show respect for Po Inu Nagar Holy Mother performed by Cham people at Mandapa area. The program continued with Apsara dances featuring Cham people’s folk culture, which took place at the areas near the temples. 

Cham people performing worshipping ritual to the Holy Mother

Apsara dances by the ancient temples

At this area, the docent continued to give information about Ponagar Temple to the representatives and tourists before taking them to another area where Cham people performed brocade weaving techniques and calligraphers wrote in calligraphy. In this area, the representatives and tourists also enjoyed music and art performances performed by Cham people and the artists of Khanh Hoa Provincial Center of Monument Preservation and Hai Dang Song and Dance Troupe. Especially, the program was designed for audience to take part in the musical activities such as dancing and playing musical instruments of Cham people.

A Cham women performing brocade weaving techniques

A calligrapher producing beautiful handwriting

Anne Lise Flavik, a tourist from Norway, was impressed with the program, which helped him learn more about local culture. Nguyen Phi Hong Nguyen, deputy head of the travel branch (Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa Tourism Association) regarded the program as a good idea for a night tourist product. He also suggested that the program should be introduced more specifically to tourism businesses so that the businesses can promote the night art program and design tours for their tourists. It requires more investment for the night art program at Ponagar Temple to become an attractive tourism product.

Music performance of Hai Dang Song and Dance Troupe

Cham artists performing Cham dances

According to Nguyen Van Nhuan, director of the Provincial Department of Culture and Sports, the night art program aims to introduce and promote values of the cultural heritage as well as create an activity for local people and tourists to experience traditional folk culture and art. In order for the program to become a tourism product, the department will organize the program at a larger scale with more activities.

Reportedly, the night art program at Ponagar Temple is intended for becoming a tourism product, contributing to the implementation of the night-time economic development project. As said by Nguyen Tan Tuan, Deputy Secretary of Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the program needs to be designed to allow more interaction between performers and audience. 

Giang Dinh - Translated by H.N